Foolish Game of the Chapter 1026: In This Kind of Match, Who'd Trust Anyone

'Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever you say is right.'

Cheng Shi retrieved his ring and smiled at ng Youfang:

"Brother ng's resolve is ironclad. I was presumptuous. Since that's the case, I'll resu my player identity and properly complete this trial.

Please forget what I just said. We're not old friends reunited from a past era — we're new teammates eting for the first ti."

ng Youfang's admiration deepened. Nodding repeatedly, he clapped Cheng Shi's shoulder:

"Since we've revealed ourselves to each other, no need to be so formal. But one rule must stand: no trial can be broken through with external help.

Your impersonation of the [Chaos] envoy counts as trickery, so we'll let that slide. But going forward, you can't use Yu Xi's power to lower the difficulty for .

Otherwise, this trial loses its aning."

"..."

Though inwardly speechless, Cheng Shi's eyes narrowed into a fox's smile.

'Where else would you find such a perfectly gullible mark?' Look — the man was even instructing him to put away Yu Xi's power.

'? Do I even have any?'

'Whether I do or not — I will absolutely keep them hidden. Promise.'

Cheng Shi was delighted. Who said delusional people couldn't be teammates? Under the right rhetoric, any force could be leveraged.

In this world, there were only incompetent liars — never a tongue that couldn't deceive.

ng Youfang had zero awareness of being duped. He was genuinely happy about reuniting with an old friend.

"Now — where should we go?

Don't look at

like that. This isn't cheating. I'm treating you as a teammate, so naturally you should face my questions with a player's mindset."

"..."

'Self-consistent delusions are truly terrifying...'

Cheng Shi's smile froze montarily. Then his eyes spun:

"To help the Erudition Presidium complete their experint, we first need to find the grand scholars.

Sa as before — increase efficiency. South and north are already covered. Let's split up and hunt for clues.

You can sense ti. Make sure to rendezvous on schedule."

ng Youfang approved of Cheng Shi's earnest trial attitude. Nodding, he left a brief "I'll take the east" and gave Cheng Shi a aningful look before departing.

Watching him go, Cheng Shi marveled that the God Worship Society had sohow maintained its "worship" founding principle all this ti. At least they still considered themselves human — aware of the divide between mortals and gods.

But this president? Terminal. Beyond any cure.

Still — what did that last look an? Was soone else still here?

Cheng Shi went on alert. He first scanned peripherally. Finding nothing after a while, he switched tactics. A light cough:

"Ti's running thin. Let's not play hide-and-seek. Co out, and say what you need to say."

A figure erged from beyond the laboratory, strolling out with a smile.

Wei Zhi!

Cheng Shi had expected the [Deceit]-hating Chen Yi coming for seconds — not this combat expert.

'What — done with your snacks already?'

Cheng Shi raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation. Wei Zhi surveyed the area, then smiled:

"Fate Weaver, I'm here as promised. Bringing my token of gratitude."

With that, he tossed two pale, glistening... things at Cheng Shi's feet.

'Brains!??'

Cheng Shi's own brain nearly short-circuited.

"Don't tell

these are..."

"They are.

The brain — vessel of wisdom — has always been a pri research subject for scholars. These before you ca from two Erudition Presidium grand scholars.

Chen Yi abandoned his corpses. Waste not, want not — I enjoyed them in his place.

But I saved the best parts. From ancient tis to present, brains have never been placed on either experint tables or dinner tables. I believe this sufficiently demonstrates my sincerity?"

"..."

'If this trial continues much longer, I'm going to lose my mind.'

'Are these people still on human brainwave frequencies?'

'If I refuse, will this combat expert imdiately turn around and cook brain stew?'

Feeling Wei Zhi's expectant gaze, Cheng Shi frowned — then decisively... accepted the gift.

He whisked the grand scholars' brains into his personal space. Seeing this, Wei Zhi was the one who froze.

Cheng Shi smirked: "What? You offered them. Having second thoughts?"

"Second thoughts? No, no, no!

Hahahaha! ng Youfang was right — Cheng Shi, you really are a delightful fellow."

Wei Zhi tilted his head back laughing, clearly appreciating Cheng Shi's reaction: "Now that you've accepted— care to tell

where Zangier is?"

"Funny thing — you're all so certain he's still alive."

Wei Zhi nodded, his smile carrying layers: "So he is alive. Good."

"..."

"Death is rely a pointless end. Only the worthless get discarded.

Zangier entered the ga personally, stole authority from a god to beco a pseudo-god — already a feat. And then he survived the crushing pressure of multiple factions and divine wrath... Do you understand what that ans?

It ans his brain isn't just filled with scholarly accumulation and experintal insights. Most importantly, he's experienced the process of a mortal ascending to godhood!

The path of [Truth] is standing on predecessors' shoulders to see farther. Countless scholars, through one accident after another, built Zangier into this massive 'stepping stone.' If future generations are destroyed before they can even climb up and look — then whoever destroyed that stone is the sinner blocking this world's path to [Truth]!

Don't get worked up, Fate Weaver. The sinner I an isn't you — it's 0221.

He tried to hoard Zangier for himself. Despicable...

But that's all past now. As long as Zangier lives, I have a chance to sav... to consult him on the enlightennt of godhood.

So — given how openly I've bared my heart, will you give

an answer, Fate Weaver?"

'Fair points, all of them. But badmouthing that lord so openly — aren't you afraid of being invited for "tea" soday?'

'That lord is genuinely petty. So you'd better be genuinely unafraid of death.'

Cheng Shi eyed him strangely. Rather than answering, he asked another question:

"Found the grand scholars' location yet?"

Wei Zhi frowned; his gaze gained a sharp edge: "Your deflection suggests you don't actually know where Zangier is, Fate Weaver."

"Of course I know. Don't forget — it was I who brought Go Lis.

You said you'd trade everything for Zangier. What — one extra question and you're backing out?

Wei Zhi, don't tell

you couldn't extract anything from the grand scholars' corpses?"

Wei Zhi's face froze. Darkly: "Trading everything buys the person, not the information about his whereabouts. Don't try to provoke , Fate Weaver. The fact that I'm here conducting a civil transaction is already very courteous. I hope you—"

"What — want to fight?"

Cheng Shi scoffed. With a flick, a scalpel appeared. He tilted his chin upward at Wei Zhi:

"Go ahead. Maybe it's the fastest shortcut to seeing him?"

"..."

Wei Zhi's expression shifted multiple tis — clearly suppressing fury. After a long silence, he exhaled heavily:

"They're in the west district's timber market warehouse. My answer?"

"You got that from the grand scholars' flesh and blood?"

"Correct. Through the [Truth] essence connection, I can pinpoint their location."

Cheng Shi frowned slightly. The man wasn't lying — but at this tier, even Master of Deception was only a reference. His eyes turned:

"Then why co to

first instead of finding them? I thought you were dying to rge with grand scholars."

"I will. Just not now. Fate Weaver — you really don't know where Zangier is, do you?"

"On [Birth]'s Divine Pillar." Cheng Shi smiled, making it up on the spot.

"?" Wei Zhi blanked. Then his brows twisted in rage: "You're lying!?"

"Tch. Though I follow [Deceit], I never lie. If you don't dare verify — why yell at ?"

"The Divine Pillar only connects extinct races! You're telling

he's alive!?"

Cheng Shi shrugged:

"I never said he was alive. You insisted he was.

[Truth]'s stepping stone might be useful to you, but for

it's just a stumbling block on the road.

[Void] doesn't need to climb. And has no [Truth].

I handed him to Go Lis. How He deals with it — what's that got to do with ?

Besides, just go pay [Birth] a visit. You'll know if I'm lying.

If He won't see you — well — I can make an introduction. The referral fee, however..."

"Hmph!" Wei Zhi snorted coldly. The fury suddenly drained, replaced by a long, aningful look at Cheng Shi. "I understand your stance now, Fate Weaver. Don't regret this."

The combat expert left. He hadn't chosen to fight a priest head-on.

Cheng Shi pursed his lips and glanced toward the west district. Then he decisively headed in the opposite direction.

'In this kind of match — who'd trust anyone?'

...